Guilty plea entered in Summer Camp drug sale

PEORIA — An Ottawa man faces up to eight years in prison after pleading guilty Monday in Peoria County to selling drugs to undercover agents at the Summer Camp music festival last May.

Joshua J. Szarka, 23, pleaded guilty in Peoria County Circuit Court to possession of between 15 and 200 ecstasy pills with intent to deliver. In return for the plea, a lesser charge of simple possession was dropped.

Probation isn't an option. When Szarka returns to court on April 3, Judge Dave Brown must sentence him to at least six years. Without the deal, Szarka faced up to 30 years.

According to court records, Szarka was arrested on May 23, 2013, when he sold four pills to undercover officers. Later he was found to have dozens more.